Lawmakers discuss how to gain control of public lands. Amendment 3 appeal might be thrown out on technicality. Reyes refusing questionable campaign donations.
Countdown:
- 5 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
- 65 days until Utah’s 2014 primary elections
- 196 days to the 2014 midterm elections
- 280 days to the start of the 2015 Utah Legislature
- 560 days to the 2015 elections
- 625 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
- 931 days to the 2016 presidential election
Today’s Utah political news highlights:
- Lawmakers from across the west gather in Salt Lake City to discuss how to get the federal government to give up control of public lands [Tribune, Deseret News].
- Utah’s appeal of the ruling striking down Amendment 3 might be thrown out on a technicality [Tribune].
- Search warrants from the criminal investigation into former Attorney General John Swallow went to a number of entities, including internet and cell phone companies [Tribune].
- Attorney General Sean Reyes says he is refusing questionable campaign donations [Tribune].
- Utah officials unveil a number of big-ticket transportation construction projects they hope to begin soon [Tribune].
- Surrounding states are keeping a close eye on Utah’s efforts to come up with an alternative to Medicaid expansion [Deseret News].
- Utah’s jobless rate inched up last month [Deseret News, Tribune].
- Weird! A private jet registered to Ogden-based Bank of Utah has been spotted in the VIP section of an airport in Iran [Tribune]. Iranian officials say the plane has been chartered by the Ghanaian government [Tribune].
- A study says Utah’s rate of urban-sprawl is the second-fastest in the nation [Tribune].
- Salt Lake’s inversion problem could hurt tourism and business development [Deseret News].
On this day in history:
- 1789 – John Adams was sworn in as the first vice president of the United States.
- 1836 – Texans, led by Sam Houston, defeated the Mexicans in the battle of San Jacinto, paving the way for Texas’ independence.
- 1910 – Author Mark Twain died at age 74.
- 1918 – Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the “Red Baron,” was killed in action during World War I.
- 1977 – The musical “Annie” opened on Broadway.
- 1980 – Rosie Ruiz was disqualified as winner of the Boston Marathon after it was discovered she jumped into the race about a mile from the finish.
- 1995 – Timothy McVeigh was arrested in connection with the Oklahoma City bombing.
